Jessica Scott | The Grand Rapids PressFrom left, Tracy Hazelwood, of Jenison, flips through a book as her husband, Michael Hazelwood, and recent college graduate Scott Urbanowski, of Kentwood, fill out paperwork with Farmers Insurance Group on Saturday at the company's Caledonia offices.

CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP — More than 1,000 people filed through a job fair held at Farmers Insurance Group on Saturday, hoping to be among those hired for a hundred or so sales and service jobs starting in December and January.

The hiring is part of about 1,600 positions the company plans to fill in the next four to five years as it expands its Caledonia campus. Construction wraps up next year on a second and third building in the office park off Kraft Avenue and 60th Street SE.

“This actually will be the largest footprint for Farmers in North America,” said Kelly Snyder, manager of talent acquisition.

Saturday’s job fair ran from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the line started much earlier.

“We had people lining up at 6:30,” Snyder said.

Despite large initial crowds, Snyder said people did not wait long. Many were in and out in an hour after checking in, filling out profile information and waiting in the cafeteria for their numbers to be called so they could have a one-on-one interview with a hiring manager or recruiter.

“We had about 60 people being interviewed at one time,” Snyder said. “Everyone will be contacted one way or another.”

Michael Hazelwood, 47, of Jenison, avoided the crowds by coming in the afternoon. He has been job hunting since January 2009. After handling national accounts for 10 years at Lacks Industries, his position was moved overseas, he said. He and his wife, Tracy, were pleased to see so many openings in his field.

“That was encouraging,” Tracy Hazelwood said, “because there hasn’t been much out there. And we can’t really make it on what I’m bringing in.”

Deb Pavek, of Ada, has been looking for full-time work for a few months since her husband lost his job. She was impressed with how smoothly things ran at the event. She also was hopeful.

“It’s a tough market, but I’m focused on customer service and things seem to be opening up in that area,” she said.